| BASIC INFO | LANGUAGE LEVEL | COMPREHENSION-AIDING FEATURES |
|---|---|---|
| Book Title Le Rat des Catacombes (The Rat of the Catacombs) Author A. Briotet Illustrator R. Jambor (cover) Published by Self-published Publication date 2019 Genre Mystery and Adventures | From the back cover French 3+ Total Word Count unknown | Illustrations NO Glossary YES Guiding Questions NO Context NO Other footnotes |
| IDENTITIES PRESENT IN THE TEXT | SYNOPSIS | |
|---|---|---|
| Races, Ethnicities, and Nationalities French: White French: Moroccan origin (Sofia) Languages spoken French Sex and Genders Female and male Ages Teenager: 13-18 Mid-life Adult: 35-65 Social classes Middle Class | Sexual Orientation Heterosexual (Includes a reference to “petit ami” / boyfriend) (Dis)Abilities and Neurotypes None disclosed Religions, Syncretism, and Spirituality Christian legends and places of worship mentioned. Relationship and Family Structures None mentioned Body Descriptions Sophia: brown eyes, black hair (p. 5) Tristan: tall, blond hair, brown eyes (p. 6) Waiter: short brown hair, brown eyes, small, appears muscular (p. 18) Le Rat: black hair, bright green eyes (p. 50) | From the author/publisher’s website This French 3+ novel weaves factual and cultural information together to serve as the backdrop to an imaginative story set in the City of Lights. When Sofia and Tristan travel to Paris to complete their studies, they unwittingly become part of the story of France’s rich history. From the depths of the dark catacombs to the heights of the vaulted cathedrals, the adventurous pair learn firsthand about the timeless history of Paris as they become mixed into a dangerous plot. But will they survive to talk about it? |
| ILLUSTRATIONS | STORY | SOCIAL JUSTICE |
|---|---|---|
| To what extent do the illustrations present positive and thoughtful representations of identities? Although the cover has a photo of a rat on it, the actual “rat” in the book is a teenage boy known as “Le Rat.” There are no other illustrations in the text. | We understand identities are complex and no single story represents the spectrum of identity-based experiences. Also, a text may address a stereotype, misrepresentation, or generalization without relying on it. Does any stereotype, misrepresentation, or generalization affect any positive and thoughtful representations of identities in the text? No. | This section is for teachers who are working towards sourcing more texts within the four domains of anti-bias education. We are excited about reading all books and we understand that not all books are written for this specific purpose. Does this text work toward goals within any of the four domains of anti-bias education as defined by Learning for Justice? No. |
| LLLAB’s REVIEW |
|---|
| A book rich in details about Parisian monuments and set against the backdrop of the 2019 Notre Dame fire, Le Rat des Catacombes follows the story of two teenagers, Sofia and Tristan, who find themselves in the midst of a mystery deep within the Catacombs. As the reader follows the duo throughout their adventure in Paris, the book offers details about well-known Parisian history and monuments such as the Fontaine des Innocents, the Basilique de Saint Denis, Notre Dame Cathedral, sites important to the French Resistance during WWII, and of course, the Catacombs. During their adventures, Sofia and Tristan encounter a waiter, Denis, who gains their trust while telling them about the history of the Catacombs. Later in the book, the reader discovers that Denis knowingly puts Sofia and Tristan in danger by encouraging them to explore parts of the Catacombs that are off-limits. The Catacombs are known to be dangerous; in the context of this story, Denis is aware of specific and recent criminal activity there. He justifies his actions with the rationale that his accomplice, a teenager he refers to as “le Rat,” has saved Sofia and Tristan several times by helping them to get out safely from the Catacombs. Teachers may wish to discuss with students the ethical issues involved if adults knowingly put adolescents in danger. Sofia is described as being of Moroccan origin (p. 5), but the text does not explore this identity and it does not play a role in the story. The text does not describe the origins of other characters. The text presents Sofia and Tristan as girlfriend and boyfriend, and it portrays their relationship as that of good friends who treat each other respectfully and view each other as equals. |
LLLAB 